A majority of Israelis want the Labor-Likud unity coalition to continue on the basis of the rotation of power agreement under which Premier Shimon Peres will turn over his office to Likud leader Yitzhak Shamir next October 13, according to a public opinion poll taken by the Hanoch and Rafi Smith Research Center, published Monday.
But the same poll found that Israelis, by a 61-29 percent margin saw reasons that would justify breaking up the coalition.
Among the respondents, 54 percent favored the rotation of power agreement, up from 47 percent in a poll conducted last August. Nineteen percent would like to see the coalition continue under the leadership of Peres, down from 24 percent in August.
Only five percent preferred a narrow coalition headed by Peres, down from six percent in August; and three percent favored a narrow-based government headed by Shamir, down from five percent. Thirteen percent favored new elections.
Twenty-nine percent of the respondents could think of nothing that would justify dissolving the coalition. But 27 percent said the coalition could not continue because of sharp personal and party disputes among its members. Another 14 percent wanted to see the coalition ended to prevent Shamir from assuming the office of Premier.
Eight percent thought it should be discontinued because of the basic disagreements between Labor and Likud over the peace agreement with Egypt and negotiations with Jordan. Seven percent cited basic disagreements between the partners over economics as a reason to end the coalition; and five percent cited a further decline in the economy as a reason.
With respect to party loyalties, II percent of those who identified themselves as Laborites said they supported no particular individual or faction in the party; 34 percent supported the party in general; 37 percent identified with the Peres faction; eight percent with the faction headed by Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin; four percent with the Yitzhak Navon group; and two percent with the dovish faction identified with former Foreign Minister Abba Eban.
Among Likud supporters, 10 percent favored no faction or individual. Shamir and Minister of Commerce and Industry Ariel Sharon each had the backing of 20 percent of Likud supporters. Housing Minister David Levy was favored by 13 percent and Finance Minister Yitzhak Modai by five percent.
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